Box Score

EL PASO, Texas – The University of Texas-Pan American Broncs women's basketball team fell to the University of Texas-El Paso Miners 62-51 on Tuesday at the Don Haskins Center.
 
The Broncs (1-3) pulled within 8-6 after a pair of free throws by Donna Jackson with 13:49 to go in the first half, but the Miners (4-0) outscored the Broncs 18-7 over the next 11 minutes, capped by a lay-up by Kristine Vitola to take a 26-13 lead.
 
The Broncs were within 31-19 on a pair of free throw by Adanna Opara with 18:56 left in the second half, sparking a 6-2 run that saw them get to within 33-23 on a jumper by Cassandra Moody, but the Miners went on an 8-0 run, capped by a Chrishauna Parker lay-up with 13:18 remaining to push the Miners' lead to 18.
 
The Broncs stayed in it, though, rallying in the final minutes. Down 58-39 with 4:56 to go after a pair of free throws by Erika Warren, Oparra scored five points on two baskets and one free throw while LaQuita Garner scored six points on a three-pointer and three free throws to fuel an 11-2 run that saw the Broncs close to within 60-50 with 1:02 left, but Kim Smith hit a lay-up and Garner missed a three-pointer in the final minute to end the game.
 
Garner led the Broncs in scoring with 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field, including the Broncs' lone three-pointer of the game, as well as 4-of-5 shooting from the line. She also pulled in four rebounds. Opara scored 10 points on 3-of-6 shooting, as well as a perfect 4-for-4 from the line performance to go with four rebounds. Jackson, Moody and Bianca Torre finished with six points each.
 
The Broncs shot 33.9% from the field (19-for-56) and 12-for-17 from the line (70.6%).
 
The Broncs play their second of six-straight games away from home on Friday when they face McNeese State University at 5:00 p.m. in the Houston Classic on the campus of the University of Houston.
 
The University of Texas-Pan American Department of Intercollegiate Athletics competes at the NCAA Division I classification. UTPA, formerly known as Pan American College and Pan American University, is a part of the University of Texas System of Schools. The Broncs compete in 14 varsity sports; men's and women's basketball, golf, tennis, track and field, and cross country, along with women's volleyball and men's baseball. In 1963, then known as Pan American College, the Broncs men's basketball program won the NAIA National Championship with a 73-62 victory over Western Carolina. In 2008 UTPA joined the new all-sports division of the Great West Conference.